Washington DC (July 24, 2014)
– According to a new survey completed by IAVA members, 47 percent of
respondents know at least one Iraq or Afghanistan veteran who has
attempted suicide, while 40 percent of respondents know someone who has
died by suicide, up three points from 2013. That is one of many critical findings from Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America’s (IAVA) groundbreaking 2014 Annual Member Survey,
released today at a press conference and panel event in Washington DC.
The largest and deepest recent survey of post-9/11 veterans provided
insight into a number of critical issues, including suicide, mental
health, VA wait times, mental health care utilization, the disability
claims backlog, employment, burn pit exposure, reintegration challenges
and more. Fifty-three
percent of respondents said they have a mental health injury. A
staggering 31 percent of respondents have thought about taking their own
life since joining the military, a one percent increase from 2013.
These findings underscore the need for Congress to pass the Clay Hunt
SAV Act, comprehensive legislation named after an Iraq War Marine
veteran and IAVA member who died by suicide in 2011. The
survey also highlights barriers veterans face when seeking mental
health care at the VA, an issue that has taken center stage since the VA
scandal erupted in late April. A shocking 68 percent of VA mental
health users indicate challenges scheduling appointments. Forty-six
percent of respondents think that the VA is doing a bad job of reaching
out to veterans regarding mental health. One
area where respondents had a positive reaction is education.
Seventy-eight percent of respondents who have used the Post-9/11 GI Bill
rate the experience as good or excellent. However, 36 percent of those
respondents received late GI Bill payments from VA.The full 2014 Annual Member Survey is available for download here: http://iava.org/survey/Additional highlights from the survey include: Suicide and Mental Health•73% do not think that troops are getting the care they need for mental health injuries•38% think the VA is doing a good job on mental health•26% think the Department of Defense is doing a good jobVA Disability Backlog:•70%
of respondents who filed a disability compensation claim waited over
120 days for the VA to notify them of a decision on their claim•65% of respondents reported a financial impact while they waited on their claimEducation:•62% of respondents have used the Post-9/11 GI Bill (either personally or their dependents have used it)Employment: •10% of respondents were unemployed•77% of respondents have experienced a period of unemployment since leaving the militaryBurn Pit Exposure: •76% of respondents were exposed to burn pits while deployed and over half report symptoms as a resultWomen in Combat: •70% of females and 43% of males think women’s advancement in the military has been limited by restrictions on women in combatPerceptions:•54% of respondents think the President is doing a poor job improving the lives of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans•69% of respondents think Congress is doing a poor job improving the lives of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans•88%
of respondents are concerned that the end of the war in Afghanistan
will negatively affect public attention to issues concerning Iraq and
Afghanistan veterans “This
groundbreaking survey shows the true voice of our generation on the
most pressing issues in America. It’s the deepest and most extensive
recent survey done of this population. If you really want to know what
post-9/11 vets think, read this survey. We hope it will serve as a
resource for all Americans who want to understand how our community
really feels—and what we are facing. We hope it will serve as a resource
to Congress, non-profits, philanthropists, DoD, VA and the President,”
said IAVA CEO and Founder Paul Rieckhoff. “These veterans are America’s
new greatest generation and our nation’s future leaders. For over a
decade they’ve continuously had America’s back. But too often, they are
being ignored. This survey is instrumental in showing all Americans how
they can help vets in almost every key area.”This
is the largest and deepest poll conducted of verified post-9/11
veterans in recent history. Unlike any other study in America,
respondents have had their military service verified by IAVA. The
overall number of respondents is also extremely noteworthy. The total is
more than twice the number recently surveyed by the Washington Post. Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (www.IAVA.org)
is the nation's leading organization representing and supporting
veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan. Founded in 2004 by veterans, for
veterans, IAVA continues to grow rapidly and has more than a quarter of a
million members nationwide. Celebrating its tenth year of dedicated
service, IAVA has regularly received the highest rating - four-stars -
from Charity Navigator, America's largest charity evaluator.

About Me

We do not open attachments. Stop e-mailing them. Threats and abusive e-mail are not covered by any privacy rule. This isn't to the reporters at a certain paper (keep 'em coming, they are funny). This is for the likes of failed comics who think they can threaten via e-mails and then whine, "E-mails are supposed to be private." E-mail threats will be turned over to the FBI and they will be noted here with the names and anything I feel like quoting.
This also applies to anyone writing to complain about a friend of mine. That's not why the public account exists.